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  3. 12 Best Destinations for a Classic Southern Christmas

12 Best Destinations for a Classic Southern Christmas

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors
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Christmas Tree
Credit: joe daniel price/Getty Images
The best Christmas vacations are right here in the South. Forgo the presents this year, and plan a trip together instead. Making memories is a gift that everyone will treasure. Whether you set your sights on cities or small towns, there's a spot that will love welcoming you for the holidays. Spend the holiday season somewhere special, and enjoy all the Christmas cheer a Southern destination has to offer. Celebrate a Southern Christmas somewhere like San Antonio, Atlanta, Orlando, or Washington, D.C., and you'll get to explore a new place in the glow of holiday lights with heartwarming traditions aplenty. Then check out the 25 Most Festive Small Towns in the South for a Charming Christmas Getaway, 16 Christmas-Themed Girlfriend Getaways To Put On Your Wish List, and Our Favorite Southern Resorts for the Holidays. Where are your sights set this holiday season? Do you have any favorite holiday destinations you'd like to plan trips to this December or in the coming years? Happy holidays!
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Dahlonega, Georgia

Dahlonega General Store Decorated for Christmas
Credit: Robbie Caponetto

Very few places do a Southern small-town Christmas as well as Dahlonega, Georgia, which is one of the South's favorite holiday towns. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque small town at Christmastime. Learn more about Christmas in Dahlonega here.

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San Antonio, Texas

Southern Christmas Vacations: San Antonio River Walk
Credit: Photo Courtesy of San Antonio CVB

The city’s most famous attraction, the San Antonio River Walk, really shines during the holidays, with hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights hung in the trees and carolers serenading revelers from boats. What better way to spend you Christmas vacation than roaming the River Walk alongside canopies of colorful Christmas lights? It's a must-see area in a city packed with festivities. (Plan a visit, and don't miss out on a twinkly holiday drive through Texas!)

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Dallas, Texas

Christmas Tree
Credit: joe daniel price/Getty Images

Whether you are in search of a fairytale Christmas celebration or you are looking to find a place to defrost from the cold December chill, Dallas is one of the best places to spend the holiday season. The shopping throughout the city is unmatched anywhere in the region, and there are holiday decorations and lights displays to be seen everywhere you turn.

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Atlanta, Georgia

Southern Christmas Vacations: Atlanta Pink Pig Rides
Credit: Photo Courtesy of Rich's-Macy's

One of Atlanta's tried-and-true traditions is the Pink Pig Ride at Macy’s at Lenox Square Mall in Buckhead. There, you can ride Priscilla, the bubblegum-colored train in the shape of a pig, which is still chugging on the upper parking deck after 56 years. The 2009 version moves through a life-size storybook showing the ride’s history. There's also ice skating at Centennial Olympic Park, where the rink comes with a view of the city skyline. Learn more about Christmas lights in Atlanta here.

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Richmond, Virginia

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Credit: Jeff Greenberg/Getty Images

During the holidays, things are merry and bright in Richmond, a city with plenty of fun Christmas traditions, events, and appearances from none other than Santa Claus himself. One can't-miss location is the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, which puts on an exciting festival of lights throughout the season. Learn more about the festive city here, then check out Virginia's 100 miles of Christmas.

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Thomasville, Georgia

All Saints' Episcopal in Thomasville, GA
Credit: Robbie Caponetto

There's small-town Christmas charm aplenty in Thomasville, Georgia, where the cobblestone downtown streets are decorated for the holidays and the locally-owned shops warmly welcome visitors during the season. Learn more about celebrating a season of happy holidays in Thomasville here.

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Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville
Credit: Joseph Cattoni/Getty Images

See the bright lights in Louisville during the holiday season. Twenty-five miles east of city center on U.S. 60, the Lake Forest area lights up with holiday cheer. At least 1,200 homeowners light lawns and houses beginning the first week of December. Go at dusk before the traffic turns snail-paced. You can also find a classic Christmas musical tradition, A Christmas Carol. You might even encounter some snow. (There's even a Christmas-themed restaurant in town!)

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Seaside, Florida

Seaside Post Office
Credit: Rush Jagoe

Forgo the skis, and fly south during the winter to celebrate Christmas with tradition and surprise. For a coastal Christmas, few places are as charming as Seaside, Florida, the picturesque community that gets dressed up for the holidays. Long-loved restaurants hung with garlands and lights offer up seafood and good times on 30A. Learn more about celebrating Christmas in Seaside here.

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Washington, D.C.

Christmas Tree
Credit: Richard T. Nowitz/Getty Images

For a lively Christmas celebration, Washington, D.C. is unbeatable. The nation's capital always has a big season of holiday festivities, including lights displays, ice skating, the national Christmas tree lighting, menorah lighting, and many more celebrations that mark the highlights of the season. There's no better time to be in D.C. than the holidays.

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Bardstown, Kentucky

Bardstown, Kentucky
Credit: Robbie Caponetto

For a small-town Kentucky Christmas, set your sights on Bardstown, which is a charming small town at any time of year but turns into a magical holiday spot during the holidays. The town is strung with lights and filled with festivities throughout the season. Plus, horse-drawn carriages run throughout town, whisking you through the twinkling, picturesque landscape in holiday style.

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Orlando, Florida

Southern Christmas Vacations: Disney World
Credit: Photo by Cary Jobe

For a warmer celebration, take a Christmas vacation to the place where dreams come true, yearlong–Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Disney World is filled with holiday cheer during the season and has schedules upon schedules full of festivities, from music and ice skating to fake snow, and caroling along with all of your favorite Disney characters. (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is always a favorite!)

 

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Natchitoches, Louisiana

Downtown Natchitoches Christmas
Credit: Robbie Caponetto

Natchitoches, Louisiana, puts on a fun holiday celebration complete with horse-drawn carriage rides and community festivities throughout the historic district, which is filled with gift shops, antiques stores, and art galleries. The riverfront town couldn't be more charming during the Christmas season. Learn more about the holidays in Natchitoches here.

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    1 of 12 Dahlonega, Georgia
    2 of 12 San Antonio, Texas
    3 of 12 Dallas, Texas
    4 of 12 Atlanta, Georgia
    5 of 12 Richmond, Virginia
    6 of 12 Thomasville, Georgia
    7 of 12 Louisville, Kentucky
    8 of 12 Seaside, Florida
    9 of 12 Washington, D.C.
    10 of 12 Bardstown, Kentucky
    11 of 12 Orlando, Florida
    12 of 12 Natchitoches, Louisiana

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